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Sunday, May 29, 2016

Blessed Fr. Hilary Januszewski (1907 – 1945) - Feast 12 June

Hilary Januszewski

Born June 11th, 1907 in Krajenki, Poland and was given the name of Pawel. He received a Christian education from his parents, Martin and Marianne. He attended the college in Greblin, and then continued his studies at the Institute of Suchary, but had to abandon these due to economic difficulties of the family. He entered the Order of Carmel in 1927 and was ordained a priest on July 15th, 1934. He obtained his lectorate in theology and the prize for the best students of the Roman Academy of St. Thomas and in 1935 returned to Poland to the monastery in Cracow. On his return to Poland he was appointed professor of Dogmatic Theology and Church History at the institute of the Polish Province in Cracow.

On November 1st, 1939 he was appointed prior of his community. One year later, the German forces decreed the arrest of many religious and priests. On September 18th, 1940 the Gestapo deported four friars from the Carmel in Cracow. In December, when other friars were arrested, Fr. Hilary decided to present himself in exchange for an older and sick friar. In April 1941 he was sent to the concentration camp of Dachau. There he was a model of prayer life, encouraging others and giving hope for a better tomorrow. Together with the other Carmelites, among whom was Blessed Titus Brandsma, they often joined in prayer. To help the sick, 32 priests presented themselves to the authorities. His apostolate lasted 21 days because, infected by typhus, he died on March 25th, 1945, a few days before the liberation of the concentration camp.. Hilary Januszewski was beatified by Pope John Paul II on June 13th, 1999, during his apostolic visit to Warsaw (Poland). On this occasion the Pope beatified 108 Polish martyrs of the Second World War, victims of Nazi persecution.

About Me

I am a consecrated Christian solitary brother (CCC 920-921), serving the church in fraternal community with the Order of Preachers (Rom 11:17).
Please pray for us in our call and mission to serve God and His church. / The monks here depicted are of the eremitic Order of St. Jerome (Hieronymites) to whom I was introduced in Lisbon, Portugal through the 'Mosteiro dos Jeronimos' world heritage site.
The blog title page features an image of the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiègne who gave their lives for the peace of God's people during the French Revolution's reign of terror.
Holy Carmelite Saints & Martyrs please pray for us +